Step-ladder.



E. G. MEAD. STEP LADDER. APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 31,1907.

Patented May 18, 1909.

EDWARD O. MEAD, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

STEP-LADDER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filedDecember 31, 1907. Serial No. 408,736.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. MEAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Step-Ladders, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in attachments for step ladders,the object being to provide attachments for supporting receptacles,packages, or the like, above the top of the ladder.

The invention relates to certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing theattachment in raised position; Fig. 2 is a view showing it in loweredosition when the ladder is collapsed or fo ded; Fig. 3 is a rear view,and Fig. 4 is a detail.

A represents the step ladder having the usual pivoted prop section 2,and pivotally connected to the prop section 2 are arms 3, 3, andconnected to the free ends of these arms are lever arms 4, 4. Supportsor railings 5 5 are pivotally connected to the free ends of the leverarms 4, extending upwardly and having arms 6, 6 extending horizontallytherefrom and supporting a shelf 7 thereon, which extends over the topof the ladder. A

in or lug 18 projects from the stiles or body A of the ladder and actsas a fulcrum for the lever arms 4 whereby the railings are held in anupright position.

Connected to the supports or railings 5 are pivotal arms 8, 8, which arepivotally connected to the top of the step ladder, and over these armsare sto s 9, 9, which are secured to the sides of the adder to limit theupward movement of the pivotal arms.

The shelf 7 has a pin or other suitable means 10 thereon for theengagement of the supporting brace 11, which is pivotally connected tothe top of the ladder, as at 12.

Dogs 13, 13 are pivotally connected to the front side of the ladder andjust below the top step 14. These dogs are connected by means of a lever15 and are actuated by means of a handle 16 formed on one of the dogs.These dogs are adapted when forced outward to enter notches or recesses17 formed in the lever arms 4 whereby the shelf is held in an uprightposition and also prevents the prop section 2 from closing up againstthe body of the ladder and holds it in an extended Cposition. When thedogs are forced inwar the prop section 2 can be closed against the bodyof the step ladder after the supporting brace 11 is released from thetop of the step ladder, thereby permitting the shelf to rest upon thetop step 14 of the ladder and the supports or gailings to extend alongthe sides of the lad- It will be seen from the foregoing that I haveprovided a very simple attachment whereby a shelf can be connected tothe step ladder and which can be used for various purposes, and whenbrought into closed position can be placed in a very compact c0m pass.ihe railings or supports 5 also afford a means whereby the personstanding on the ladder can grasp the same for support or as an aid inclimbing the ladder.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limitmyself to the exact construction herein set forth, but:-

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A step ladder, comprising a body portion,a prop section connected thereto, railings, a shelf on the railings,arms connecting the railings and prop section, a brace con nected to theshelf, and dogs adapted to engage the arms for supporting the shelf.

2. A step ladder, comprising a body, a prop section connected thereto,railings, a shelf thereon, arms pivotally connected to the body andrailings, pivotally connected arms connected to the railings and propstandard, and means engaging said last named arms for holding the shelfin position.

3. A step ladder, comprising a body portion, a prop section connectedthereto, railings, a shelf on the railings, arms pivotally connected tothe railings and prop section, dogs adapted to engage the last namedarms for supporting the shelf in position, and a lever connecting thedogs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDVARD C. MEAD.

Witnesses:

PERRY L. TURNER, MERLE Do'rY.

